Ruthless Hanover, who paced the fastest mile ever in harness racing history over a five-eighths-mile track, 1:46.3, in the 2023 Auger Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia, showed absolutely no rust after a six-month layoff, winning the $17,808 fast-class handicap pace in 1:47.1 on Sunday, May 19.
Andrew McCarthy made his intentions known immediately with the seven-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding, putting Ruthless Hanover right on the lead, reaching the first quarter in :26 before getting a “breather” to a :53.4 half, then going :26 again down the back, hitting the three-quarters in 1:19.4. The speed demon had left the field far behind by the last-named station, and he won by nine lengths with McCarthy looking like a passenger.
Owned by John Cancelliere and trained by Tom Cancelliere, Ruthless Hanover was one of two winners for that duo as Macs Delight scored in the following race. That Bettors Delight four-year-old gelding has been super sharp in his three starts this campaign, including his 1:49.1 win in a $19,863 pace on Sunday. Andrew McCarthy kept Macs Delight in third behind fractions of :26.3 and :54.4, then moved him first-over on the way to the 1:22 three-quarters, with the U.S. champion distaff Twin B Joe Fresh, making her first start as a four-year-old, on his back. But Macs Delight stayed strong to keep the late kick of the mare 1-1/4 lengths at bay.
The horse who was the fastest of the year at Philly when the day started was the three-year-old Total Stranger in 1:49.1, and in the day’s first race he lowered that mark a tick – for four races anyway -- while pacing fractions of :26.3, :54.1 and 1:21 en route to a 6-3/4-length victory in a $16,438 event. Since the 1:49.1 was the maiden win for the Bettors Delight colt (a full brother to Tall Dark Stranger), this 1:49 perforce becomes his lifetime speed badge after winning for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Nancy Takter, and the ownership of Judith Taylor, Caviart Farms and Chuck Pompey.
Racing next week at Philly will be on Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24 at 12:25 p.m. followed by the Super Sunday card at 12:40 p.m. next Sunday, May 26, featuring the Auger Memorial, Betsy Ross and Maxie Lee Memorial Trot, all for purses of $100,000 USD.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)